Saya Ring For Reinforcement?

[Blazeaglory]

Hello again. I don't know the exact name for this but I think its a ring to reinforce and add decoration to a saya? I got this in a lot of a bunch of menuki for a couple bucks.

 

Looks to be Shibuichi but upon deeper inspection, might be silver plated brass. It does have a Mei, so ill try to take better pics later.

 

I haven't really checked it out fully but I wanted to know if anyone has seen anything like this before? Is it old or a new reproduction?

[John A Stuart]

Yes, probably a semegane. John

[Blazeaglory]

Yes, probably a semegane. John

Thanks.

 

Tested it and it's silver or more than likely Shibuichi. I added a pic of the Mei.

 

I know this is just a little trinket but I find it interesting.

[TETSUGENDO]

Dwain,

 

Most likely silver, from your photo it looks nothing like Shibuichi.  Also, if you got a strong indicator for silver in your test its silver, most Shibuichi has a silver content ot 20/30+% and would not yield the results that an 80/100% silver content would.

 

Cheers,

    -S-

[Blazeaglory]

Dwain,

 

Most likely silver, from your photo it looks nothing like Shibuichi.  Also, if you got a strong indicator for silver in your test its silver, most Shibuichi has a silver content ot 20/30+% and would not yield the results that an 80/100% silver content would.

 

Cheers,

    -S-

 

 

Yes very high indicator, sterling or close. Although (I think) some shibuichi can get up to 70% or more silver content, I think you're correct. Actually You're probably 100% correct.

 

I just assumed it was shibuichi because, for some reason, I had the strange notion that they didn't make pure silver fittings back then. Or maybe I said shibuichi because, subconsciously, I knew it was pure silver but if I said it was pure silver, then everyone would have said it was shibuichi... But in all honesty, I just like saying sheeeboooeechee :laughing:

 

Could it possibly be a fitting for a spear/yari? It looks pretty darned old compared to some 19th century silver I have. Plus the Buddhist "swastika" I would think puts this fairly old (just a guess)?

[Surfson]

If it is what you think it is, I think that they are sometimes called koiguchi gane.  The koiguchi is the opening to the saya, and gane usually refers to some sort of metal insert.  

[Blazeaglory]

If it is what you think it is, I think that they are sometimes called koiguchi gane. The koiguchi is the opening to the saya, and gane usually refers to some sort of metal insert.

Thanks. I'll remember that. Or try to anyways. So many different terms????

 

I've seen similar on Yari as well but maybe bigger? I think they are called "Chidome"? Usually with Nihonto Koshirae that I've seen, the koiguchi-gane have been on tachi style koshirae with more filigree and beard like design. I can't recall ever seeing a straight one like this. But I'm not saying it can't be or hasn't, just seems a little plain I guess.

 

Either way, they serve the same purpose I'm guessing and really just want to see if anyone has seen this style before. So thanks for the info!

[John A Stuart]

Search 責金 It should lead to examples. John

[Blazeaglory]

Search 責金 It should lead to examples. John

Thanks. I've been trying to translate but I can't figure it out. Do you know the names for each symbol here? I thought it was 3?

 

Anyways thanks!

[John A Stuart]

https://www.bing.com/search?q=%E8%B2%AC%E9%87%91&form=EDNTHN&mkt=en-ca&httpsmsn=1&refig=ff33001f2f91442983f8944538ed1364

[Blazeaglory]

https://www.bing.com/search?q=%E8%B2%AC%E9%87%91&form=EDNTHN&mkt=en-ca&httpsmsn=1&refig=ff33001f2f91442983f8944538ed1364

 

I could never figure out how to search using the actual Japanese character (other than copying and pasting). I would translate it first and then search in English. So what I'm asking is the name of each character so I can then search for myself. If you don't know or don't have anything other than reference to Bing or Google, don't worry about it. Thanks for sharing anyways I guess. I'll use your Bing references and try to translate.

 

EDIT: IT MEANS SEMEGANE...I THOUGHT YOU WERE TRYING TO TRANSLATE THE ACTUAL SIGNATURE. Sorry for misunderstanding. I found the translation in Mark Seskos book.

[jct3602]

Dwain:

    Your piece may help me define a supposed fuchi/kashira I just got.  Thought it might be a ring from a scabbard,  and the kashira? (which appears to have the ana added later) was perhaps once a kojiri?  Same idea as yours, a very strong and extremely thin hoop.  Adding pictures to show the thinning of the sides.  The alloys used are interesting; the silverish bands corroded to black on the inside, and the golden copper turned orange on the inside; sorry, was hard to get picture in focus.

 

Yours, john

[jct3602]

   The other fuchi are ones I have, just to show comparative thickness of the thin hoop.

 

Yours, John

[Blazeaglory]

That's pretty cool. Ive seen allot of those gold/silver bamboo style F/K but never with actual silver throughout. The others were just plated or painted over. Your F/K seem to have pieces of silver in them and look like someone actually put a little effort into making them.

 

Thanks for that!